HERITAGE OF KAUNAS MODERNISM: VALUES AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION. Dr. Vaidas Petrulis

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1 HERITAGE OF KAUNAS MODERNISM: VALUES AND INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION Dr. Vaidas Petrulis

2 In 1990 s John Tunbridge and Gregory Ashworth developed an argument that heritage is a product of the present, purposefully developed in response to current needs or demands for it, and shaped by those requirements. Therefore it is being considered that the process of valuing is very relativistic and different generations and highly diverse social groups repeatedly appropriate heritage to define their own identity. Aim of this presentation is to present recent debates on values of interwar architecture of Kaunas.

During the period 1918 to 1940, Lithuania was one of the newly restored states that formed in Central and Eastern Europe on a national-territorial

3 During the period 1918 to 1940, Lithuania was one of the newly restored states that formed in Central and Eastern Europe on a national-territorial basis after the First World War. Lithuania lost its historical capital Vilnius in As a result more than 6000 buildings remained from the period.

4 Kaunas New town area: 41,6% of all built environment from interwar period, 20,8% % before WWI 37,6% after WWII. (Data and map by Giedrius Bugenis)

5 On 15 April 2015, Kaunas of was awarded the European Heritage Label.

6 European Heritage Label is an initiative of the European Union designed to acknowledge historical and cultural significance of locations and events for the creation of Europe and the EU.

7 In 1923: ex-border fortress of Tsarist Russia with inhabitants Early 1920 s

8 Upė Iseivijos 6664 Early 1920 s

9 In 1939: Modern European capital with inhabitants Late 1930 s

Late 1930 s The city was extensively modernized, becoming independent Lithuania s gateway to contemporary dynamic currents of interwar Europe.

10 Late 1930 s The city was extensively modernized, becoming independent Lithuania s gateway to contemporary dynamic currents of interwar Europe. This remarkable economic, cultural, architectural and educational development of Kaunas created a urban landscape exuberantly reflecting European interwar modernism and constituting today the outstanding heritage of a flourishing golden period. The candidate site meets the criteria for European significance required for the European Heritage Label. (Panel Report, 2015:15)

13 ARGUMENTS FOR VALUATION

14 (1) LITHUANIAN INTERPRETATION OF INTERNATIONAL STYLE. Beginning in the 1930 s, the younger generation of Lithuanian architects began to return from their studies in European universities (Rome, Prague, Berlin etc.) and brought with them new ideas of how architecture in contemporary capital should look. Project for Military Research Laboratory for the Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense, arch. Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis, 1935

18 Gyvenamasis namas K. Donelaičio g. 19, 1933, arch. A. Funkas Family house, 1934, arch. Arnas Funkas

19 Family house, 1930, arch. Jokūbas Peras. J. Glemžos namas, arch. J. Peras, 1932

20 City grew rapidly first of all using the traditional construction methods and local materials: wood, brick masonry, granite plaster. However glass and concrete became an important sign of modernity. Ceilings of former Postal savings office building (now Kaunas city municipality), architect Arnas Funkas, 1940.

21 Fragment of officers club in Kaunas, architect Stasys Kudokas, 1937.

22 Ceilings in House of Physical education, architect Landsbergis Žemkalnis, 1934.

(2) EXAMPLES OF UNIQUE MIXTURE OF NATIONAL STYLE AND MODERNISM IN 1930 S Capital city of Kaunas was built taking account the temporary nature of the process.

23 (2) EXAMPLES OF UNIQUE MIXTURE OF NATIONAL STYLE AND MODERNISM IN 1930 S Capital city of Kaunas was built taking account the temporary nature of the process. Hopes to recover Vilnius as the capital never ceased to be significant. It was one of the reasons why, in contrast to classical schools of Modernism, Kaunas developed an individual aesthetic expression which combines elements of modern movement and national style. Coat s of Arms of Kaunas, Vilnius and Klaipėda. Officers club in Kaunas, arhc. S. Kudokas and others, 1937

distinctive home for the nation that would enable

24 The intentions of national style, were expressed as an aim to shape the face of the new-born state, a distinctive home for the nation that would enable the final liberation from the legacy of the imperial Russia.

25 Early example of national style, Tulpė housing cooperative, architect Antanas Maciejauskas, 1924.

26 Kaunas central post office, arch. Feliksas Vizbaras, 1931

29 Office building of Pažanga, architect Feliksas Vizbaras,

30 Officers club in Kaunas, arhc. S. Kudokas and others, 1937

31 Room of the President of Lithuania. Officers club in Kaunas, arhc. S. Kudokas and others, 1937

32 Room named after Vytautas Magnus. Officers club in Kaunas, arhc. S. Kudokas and others, 1937

33 House of Vailokaičiai family, architect Arnas Funkas, 1929

the most prominent concepts of modernism stadtkrone, city

34 (3) DISTINCTIVE RELATION WITH LANDSCAPE (VALLEY OF TWO RIVERS) In 1919 German architect Bruno Taut shaped one of the most prominent concepts of modernism stadtkrone, city crown. Resurrection Church in Kaunas embodies this visionary idea.

35 Building of the faculty of Physics and Chemistry of Vytautas Magnus university, architect Mykolas Songaila, 1931

36 As a capital city of Kaunas had extravagant ambitions. Despite the approaching threat of war, international competition for the luxurious Government Palace was launched. More than 50 projects submitted not only from different European countries, but also from the United States and Brasilia. Competition entry

37 (4) INTANGIBLE CONTENT OF THE INTERWAR PERIOD HERITAGE SITES Architectural forms which witness official and unofficial history as the commemoration places reflecting political, cultural and everyday activities for institutions, organizations and personalities.

38 Exhibition hill, 1927

40 PHYSICAL SUBSTANCE Sprit and feeling

41 Operational guidelines by UNESCO indicates spirit and feeling among the key categories to describe authenticity. Nevertheless Operational Guidelines warns that such attributes do not lend themselves easily to practical applications spirit ant feeling of Kaunas New Town now became a strategic point for discussions on value of Kaunas interwar architecture. In contrast to international definitions, Lithuanian modernism can be characterized by small scale and dispersity rather than large projects with clear functional zones, with the consistent development of the townscape rather than dramatic restructuring, with local character rather than clearly recognizable architectural images of Bauhaus (functionalism).

URBAN LANDMARKS An almost symbolical illustration of architectural processes is the story of the Resurrection Church in Kaunas After an architectural competition for the

42 URBAN LANDMARKS An almost symbolical illustration of architectural processes is the story of the Resurrection Church in Kaunas After an architectural competition for the design of the church in 1929, the winner of the competition, Karolis Reisonas began to develop his stadtkrone. But later, for economic reasons, the project was radically simplified.

44 Vytautas the Great War Museum and M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum, architects Vladimiras Dubeneckis, Karolis Reisonas, Kazimieras Kriščiukaitis,

45 Kauno apskrities savivaldybė, 1933, arch. V. Landsbergis-Žemkalnis LCVA fotodokumentų skyrius Office building for Kaunas region municipality, Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis, 1933

In the 1937 Paris International Exposition, which was dedicated to Art and Technology in modern life, won a prize for its architectural design, and became a symbol of modern ideas in

46 In the 1937 Paris International Exposition, which was dedicated to Art and Technology in modern life, won a prize for its architectural design, and became a symbol of modern ideas in Lithuanian architecture of the time Pienocentro administracinis pastatas (dab. KTU), , V. Landsbergis-Žemkalnis Office building of Pienocentras company, arch. Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis, 1934

47 Bank of Agriculture, architect Karolis Reisonas, 1935

48 Palace for trade, industry and crafts, architect Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis, 1937

49 Postal savings office building (now Kaunas city municipality), architect Arnas Funkas, 1940.

50 Church in Šančiai, architect, Algirdas Šalkauskis, 1938

51 Palace of agriculture, architect Karolis Reisonas, 1933

52 REMAINING ELEMENTS OF SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE

53 House of Physical education, architect Landsbergis Žemkalnis, 1934.

54 Elementary school, architect Antanas Jokimas, 1931

55 School for Jewish children, architect Boruchas Klingas, 1931

56 Gymnasium in Šančiai, architect Stasys Kudokas, 1939

57 Kaunas University of eye, ear, nose and throat clinic, architect V. Landsbergis-Žemkalnis, 1929

58 Fire station, architect Edmundas Frykas, 1930

59 The water- works, architect Stasys Kudokas ( ), Feliksas Bielinskis (1938)

61 Cinema Romuva, architect Nikolajus Mačiulskis, 1940

62 Sports hall in Kaunas, engineer Anatolijus Rozenbliumas, 1939

64 DWELLINGS House of Chaimsunai family, architect V. Landsbergis- Žemkalnis, 1931 Gyvenamasis namas Maironio g. 13, 1931, arch. V. Landsbergis- Žemkalnis

65 House of Polovinskiai family, architect Arnas Funkas, 1932

66 House of Škėma family, architect Bronius Elsbergas, 1933

67 House of Sneider family, architect Stasys Kudokas, 1932

68 House of Baronai family, architect Bronius Elsbergas, 1933

69 House of Norkaitis family, architect V. Landsbergis-Žemkalnis, 1938

70 House of Jokantai family, architect Algimantas Šalkauskis, 1934

71 House of Daugirdai family, architect Vladimiras Dubeneckis, 1930

72 House of Posvianskis family, architect Jokūbas Peras, 1928

75 ELEMENTS OF THE CITY

76 Funicular of Žaliakalnis, 1931

77 Project of Kaukas Alley in Kaunas, architect Stasys Kudokas, 1936

80 Detail of office building of Pienocentras company, architect Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis, 1934

81 Elements of the city infrastructure, architect Stasys Kudokas, 1932

82 INTERIORS

83 Interior of former ministry of Justice (now Kaunas philharmonic), architect Edmundas Frykas, 1929

84 Staircase in house of Lapėnai family, architect Feliksas Vizbaras, 1932

85 Staircase in house of Juknevičiai family, architect Stanislovas Bukovskis, 1938

86 CONCLUSION Architectural legacy of Kaunas encourage to approach heritage not only as a series of constellations of individual monuments relevant to the construction of the political identity of the nation, but also as dynamically evolving historical cityscape. In other words, the spirit of the place which has always been ceaselessly created by local communities should be considered in addition to the conventional historical, aesthetical, etc. values.

Kaunas modernism: five ways to interpret it`s local character. Vaidas Petrulis

Kaunas modernism: five ways to interpret it`s local character Vaidas Petrulis 1 _ TRANSFORMATION OF THE CITY _ Status of capital city provoked a construction boom: government institutions, educational